Roofing Fork

ABSTRACT

A roofing fork removing multiple shingles in rolls is disclosed. The effective width of the roofing fork tines ranges in measurement size between fourteen to twenty inches. During use, a critical mass of shingles creates roll of shingles allowing for easy removal of the shingles and other roofing materials.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a roofing fork for effective removalof shingles and other roofing materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roofing construction generally includes removal of pre-existing shinglesprior to installation of a new shingles on an existing roof surface.Roofing forks are typically used to pry the shingles and other roofingmaterials from the roof surface.

Prior to the instant invention, roofing forks have a width comprised ofa plurality of individual tines. The prior art width of the plurality oftines ranges in measurement size from seven inches to ten inches.

Prior art roofing forks, given the prior art dimensions with regard tothe width of the plurality of tines, are ineffective for removingmultiple shingles. There is a long felt need to make shingle removalmore effective, thereby saving time and money.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of embodiments of the present invention toprovide a roofing fork. Additional objects, advantages and novelfeatures of the invention will be set forth in part in the descriptionwhich follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in theart upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice ofthe invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with thepurposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly describedherein, the roofing fork comprises a shaft, a support and a plurality oftines, the shaft attaching to the support, the support attaching to theplurality of tines attaching opposite the shaft and the plurality oftines spanning a width, the width of the plurality of tines ranges inmeasurement from fourteen inches to twenty inches in one embodiment,from fifteen inches to nineteen inches in another embodiment and fromsixteen inches to eighteen inches in yet another embodiment.

Benefits and advantages of the present invention include, but are notlimited to, providing a highly effective roofing fork, which is portableand can effectively function to remove roofing shingles and a variety ofroofing materials from roofs. Importantly, the instant inventionprovides a means to remove three to five shingles in rolls, therebysaving time and effort as roofing shingles and other roofing materialsare removed from roof surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill inthe art by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a direct front view of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front and view of one embodiment of the presentinvention highlighting various measurements of the shaft, the width ofthe plurality of tines, the individual tine length and width, thespacing between the tines and the brace.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective front side view of one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the presentinvention where the fork tines are straight, lying in the same plane asthe handle.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective front side view of one embodiment ofthe present invention wherein the timings have an arcuate shape.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the presentinvention wherein the tines are arcuate in shape, not lying in the sameplane as the handle due to the arcuate shape.

FIG. 7 illustrates a demonstration of the present invention wherein theincreased width of the plurality of tines (not pictured) enable theroofer to remove multiple shingles from a roof, the shingles forming aroll of multiple shingles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Throughout the following detailed description, the same referencecharacters refer to the same or similar elements in all figures. Thefigures are not drawn to exact scale and are meant to be representativein order to easily show the elements as discussed herein.

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of one embodiment of the present invention,illustrating the handle 20 attached to one end of the shaft 5. The otherend of the shaft 5 is attached to the support 10. Individual tines 15A,15B, 15C, 15D, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H and 15I comprising the plurality oftines are attached to the support 10. The plurality of tines attach tothe support 10 on the opposite side as the shaft 5. FIG. 1 also depictstwo braces 25A and 25B. One brace 25A is attached to one end of thesupport 10 and the shaft 5 while the other brace 25B is attached to theopposite end of the support 10 and the shaft 5.

The tines have two ends. One tine end attaches to the support 5 and theother distal end is pointed. The pointed roofing tine allows forpuncturing and gripping the shingle or other roofing materials. In oneembodiment of the instant invention, the tines are integrally formedwith the support. In another embodiment of the instant invention, thesupport is integrally formed with the shaft. In yet another embodimentof the instant invention, the tines, support and shaft are allintegrally formed.

FIG. 2 depicts the same drawing as referenced in FIG. 1. FIG. 2highlights the dimensions of the various elements of the roofing fork.In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of tines (15A,15B, 15C, 15D, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H and 15I in FIG. 1) spans a width “X”.The width “X” of the plurality of tines ranges in measurement size fromfourteen inches to twenty inches. In another embodiment of the instantinvention, the width “X” of the plurality of tines ranges in measurementsize from fifteen inches to nineteen inches. In yet another embodimentof the instant invention, the width “X” of the plurality of tines rangesin measurement size from sixteen inches to eighteen inches.

FIG. 2 depicts the shaft having a measurement length “B”. In oneembodiment of the present invention the shaft 5 has a length “B” rangingin measurement size from twenty-five inches to thirty-five inches. Inyet another embodiment of the present invention the shaft 5 has a lengthranging in measurement size from twenty-eight inches to thirty-twoinches.

FIG. 2 also depicts the plurality of tines (each time shown as 15A, 15B,15C, 15D, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H and 15I in FIG. 1). Each tine has a length“Y”. In one embodiment of the present invention, of length “Y” of thetines range in measurement size from ten inches to sixteen inches. Inanother embodiment of the present invention, the length of the tinesrange in measurement size from twelve inches to fourteen inches.

Each tine has a width and shown as “Z” in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, thewidth “Z” of each tine ranges in measurement size between one quarterinch to one inch. In another embodiment the width “Z” of each tineranges in measurement size between one quarter inch and five-eighthsinch.

FIG. 2 also depicts the plurality of tines comprising a plurality ofspaces between each of the tines. The spaces between the tines have alength “A” ranging in measurement size between two inches and fourinches.

The roofing fork further comprises at least one brace 25 attachedbetween the shaft 5 and the support 10. FIG. 2 depicts brace 25A and 25Bhaving a length “C”. The length of the brace varies depending upon thesize of the support 5 and where the brace 25 attaches to the shaft 10.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict one embodiment of the present invention wherein theplurality of tines are straight and are parallel to the handle and liein the same plane as the handle.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict another embodiment of the present invention whereinthe tines have an arcuate shape. The arcuate shape of the plurality oftines provides additional leverage for the removal of shingles and otherroofing materials.

FIG. 7 depicts one embodiment of the invention in actual use. Whereasthe prior art roofing fork has plurality of tine width dimensions ofseven inches to ten inches and is able to remove typically one shingleat a time, the instant invention, as depicted in FIG. 7, isapproximately double the width of the plurality of tines and is able toremove triple to quintuple the number of shingles in the same amount oftime.

In operation, the instant invention removes more than triple toquintuple the amount of shingles and other roofing material. Themultiple shingle removal often occurs as shingles remain attached toeach other and form a roll during removal. The roll of shinglesmaintains a critical shingle mass and the non-linear many shingles andtoher roofing materials are removed. This invention provides a means fora roofer to remove a roll of four to five shingles during roughly thesame amount of time as the prior art removed one shingle. It would bepredicted that doubling the width of the plurality of tines would removedouble the number of shingles and other oofing materials; however, theinstant invention provides non-linear results by removing triple,quadruple and even quintuple the number of shingles and other roofingmaterials. Thus, the instant roofing fork invention, having a widerplurality of tines, surprisingly provides a more effective, time savingadvancement in the art of shingle and roofing material removal.

The plurality of tines is typically comprised of metal and othermaterials known in the roofing arts. The shaft and handle may becomprised of metal, plastic, fiberglass, wood and other materials knownin the roofing arts.

It is believed that the apparatus of the present invention and many ofits attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoingdescription. It is also believed that it will be apparent that variouschanges may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of thecomponents without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionand without sacrificing its material advantages. The forms described aremerely exemplary and explanatory embodiments thereof. It is theintention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A roofing fork comprised of a shaft, a supportand plurality of tines, wherein the shaft attaches to and isperpendicular to the support, the support attaches to and isperpendicular to the plurality of tines, the plurality of tines extendin the opposite direction from the support as the shaft and theplurality of tines have a width, said with of the plurality of tinesranges in measurement size from fourteen inches to twenty inches.
 2. Theroofing fork of claim 1, wherein the width of plurality of tines rangesin measurement size from fifteen inches to nineteen inches.
 3. Theroofing fork of claim 1, wherein the width of plurality of tines rangesin measurement size from sixteen inches to eighteen inches.
 4. Theroofing fork of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a length, said lengthranges in measurement size from twenty-five inches to thirty-fiveinches.
 5. The roofing fork of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a length,said length ranges in measurement size from twenty-eight inches tothirty-two inches.
 6. The roofing fork of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof tines comprise one or more tines, each of said one or more tineshaving a length ranging in measurement size from ten inches to sixteeninches.
 7. The roofing fork of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tinescomprise one or more tines, each of said one or more tines having alength ranging in measurement size from twelve inches to fourteeninches.
 8. The roofing fork of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tinescomprise one or more tines, each of said one or more tines has a pointedend opposite an end which attaches to the support.
 9. The roofing forkof claim 1, wherein the plurality of tines comprise one or more tines,each of said one or more tines having a width ranging in measurementsize from one quarter inch to one inch.
 10. The roofing fork of claim 1,wherein the plurality of tines comprise one or more tines, each of saidone or more tines having a width ranging in measurement size from onequarter inch to five-eighths inch.
 11. The roofing fork of claim 1,wherein the plurality of tines comprises a plurality of spaces betweenthe one more tines that comprise the plurality of tines, the spacesbetween the tines having a length ranging in measure size between twoinches to four inches.
 12. The roofing fork of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one brace having two ends, the first brace endattaching to the shaft and the second brace end attaching to thesupport.
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. The roofing fork of claim 1,further comprising a handle attached to the shaft opposite and distal tothe support.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The roofing fork of claim 1, wherein thesupport and the plurality of tines are integrally formed.
 18. Theroofing fork of claim 1, wherein the support and the shaft areintegrally formed.
 19. The roofing fork of claim 1, wherein the support,the shaft and plurality of tines are integrally formed.
 20. (canceled)21. A roofing fork comprised of: -a shaft, a support, and plurality oftines, wherein the shaft attaches to and is perpendicular to thesupport, wherein the support attaches to and is perpendicular to theplurality of tines, wherein the plurality of tines extend in theopposite direction from the support as the shaft, wherein the pluralityof tines have a width, said width of the plurality of tines ranging inmeasurement size from fourteen inches to twenty inches, wherein said theplurality of tines comprise one or more tines, wherein each of said oneor more tines have a length ranging in measurement size from ten inchesto sixteen inches, wherein each of said one or more tines comprise aface plain pointed end opposite an end which attaches to the support,wherein said plurality of tines has a width ranging in measurement sizefrom one quarter of an inch to one inch, wherein said the plurality oftines comprises a plurality of spaces between said one more tines thatcomprise the plurality of tines, the spaces between the tines having alength ranging in measurement size between two inches to four inches,wherein said plurality of tines are straight and parallel to the shaft;and wherein said plurality of tines has an arcuate shape.
 22. A roofingfork comprised of: a shaft, a support and plurality of tines, whereinthe shaft attaches to and is perpendicular to the support, wherein thesupport attaches to and is perpendicular to the plurality of tines, theplurality of tines extend in the opposite direction from the support asthe shaft, wherein the plurality of tines have a width, said width ofthe plurality of tines ranging in measurement size from sixteen inchesto eighteen inches, wherein said the plurality of tines comprise one ormore tines, wherein each of said one or more tines have a length rangingin measurement size from twelve inches to fourteen inches, wherein eachof said one or more tines comprise a face plain pointed end opposite anend which attaches to the support, wherein said plurality of tines has awidth ranging in measurement size from one quarter of an inch tofive-eighths of an inch, wherein said the plurality of tines comprises aplurality of spaces between said one more tines that comprise theplurality of tines, the spaces between the tines having a length rangingin measurement size between two inches to four inches, wherein saidplurality of tines are straight and parallel to the shaft; and whereinsaid plurality of tines has an arcuate shape.
 23. The roofing fork ofclaim 21, and further comprising at least one brace having two ends, thefirst brace end attaching to the shaft and the second brace endattaching to the support.
 24. The roofing fork of claim 21, wherein thesupport has two outside ends, and further comprising: a first bracehaving two ends and attaching at one end to the shaft, and at the otherend to a first outside end of said support, and a second brace havingtwo ends and attaching at one end to the shaft, and at the other end toa second outside end of said support.